Tagged Pete Seeger

Fiery Independent Socialist Sings Seeger and Guthrie Songs August 4, 2015 – Bernie Sanders, the fiery Independent Socialist from Vermont that is currently running for for the Democratic nomination for the 2016 Presidential election, recorded a folk music album back in 1987 singing great social-activist folk songs from the greats such as Pete Seeger and Woody…

FEB 3, 2013 – Greg Deering, founder of Deering Banjo Company and good friend of JTMP, has commented on the recent passing of Pete Seeger and his legacy:

"Pete Seeger greatly influenced me as a music hero. He also influenced all the other music heroes I have. To a great deal I am a banjo maker today because of his influence and contribution to the world. I will miss him. We all miss him. Whether or not he would agree, I know he is now in a new place which he will also make better." – Greg Deering

JAN 28, 2014 – JTMP is in shock and in mourning today, for we woke up to the news that we lost American folk music legend and Great Grandpa Musical Activist that started it all, Pete Seeger. Pete is a personal inspiration, for I attend a "Sing Out Jam Out" folk music circle (find one on MeetUp.com!), and we use the "Rise Up Singing" song book that he helped out with and contains many of his songs. His passing will affect millions and he will have an impact on America and the world for years to come.

Pete was born in New York in 1919, and died in New York in 2014, at the age of 94. His musical career started in the 1940s and 1950s and he enjoyed a successful musical career, and even performed with the band the Weavers, who were blacklisted during the McCarthy era. He is considered by many to have started the activist folk music scene in the 1960s, and Pete and his music became a staple of protests and rallies from the 1960s to today.

JTMP joins the mourning of the passing and celebration of the life of the American activist folk music legend, Pete Seeger. Below is Pete and the Weavers reunited for a concert at Carnegie Hall singing the folk classic, "Wimoweh", or "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and read about this amazing man on NPR.org here. Rest in Peace Pete, we will carry on the struggle for civil rights! (photo credit: LOC/CC)

APR 18, 2013 – Longtime musical-activist Pete Seeger has been announced as one of the over 200 performers playing at the Milford Musicfest, a music event that centers around music, activism and progressive policies such as sustainable energy and opposition to fracking and the Keystone XL Pipeline. Read more on JTMP Green here. (photo credit: Anthony Pepitone/CC)

JAN 23, 2012 – Musician activist Ani DiFranco just released a new album, "Which Side Are You On?", and when asked in a NY Times interview who she admires among the people playing protest songs these days she said, "Pete Seeger for one…I had received two things in the mail from him, not only ideas for “Which Side Are You On?” and how we could do it but other new protest songs that he’s been working on. Beautiful songs. Amazing new vibrant sentiments from this man who is endlessly engaged. ” And when asked if she is bothered there is not much protest music these days she responded, “Hopefully that tide will be turning. There certainly is a reinvigorated energy in our society. ”

OCT 22, 2011 – Pete Seeger, along with grandson and musician Tao Rodriguez Seeger, 60s activist musician Arlo Guthrie, composer David Amram, and bluesman Guy Davis joined a crowd of a thousand or so Occupy Wall Street protesters in a march from Symphony Space to Columbus Circle. They sang protest and activist songs as they marched, and then they all sang "We Shall Overcome" at Columbus Circle. Watch the footage below.